Proverbs 18.10-11
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination. A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination. ”
We see in verses 10 and 11 that the righteous man and his strong tower are contrasted with the rich man and his strong city. The righteous man puts his security in the name of the Lord and the rich man puts his security in his wealth. However, the rich man’s security is all in his head. It is false confidence. It is pseudo-security. It is a fantasy that is not true to reality. True security is found in the name of the Lord.
There are many people today who try to make wealth their fortress, unscalable wall. They believe that if they acquire enough of it, build up a high enough wall of it, that the problems and difficulties of the world will not be able to climb over. The reality is that problems and difficulties have a pernicious and tenacious way of building siege ramps against the walls of wealth, and they breach even the highest towers. Problems also find ways to tunnel under the strongest human fortress.
“Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist,” Proverbs 23 says. “When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.”
Money is not the place to look for security. Scripture tells us that God is the source of our strength and protection. God is described as a rock, a shield, a fortress, a foundation, and a fortress. In Proverbs 18 quoted above, the Lord is described as a strong tower.
During the time when Proverbs was written, a strong tower was a place of safe refuge that was sturdily built and heavily fortified. Strong towers were built to hold large amounts of food and supplies. It was a place of safety and a place of provision. When an enemy attacked, the people of a village found protection and provision in the strong tower.
Psalm 18.1-3 gives a vivid description and powerful declaration of God as our fortress of strength: “I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.”
And so it is with the Lord and his people. The followers of Jesus have been made righteous by Christ’s sacrificial death, and we run to him not only for salvation, but also for provision and protection. As redeemed people, we are incredibly blessed.
The encounter that Jesus had with the rich young ruler makes it quite clear that money and possessions are not the source of our security. In fact, wealth can be a major stumbling block to following Jesus.
“And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” (Matthew 19:16-22)
Again, as Proverbs 18.10-11 reminds us, our strong tower is the Lord, not our wealth, possessions, or position.
More on this tomorrow.
